The Mystic Nine Episode 6 Recap
> The Mystic Nine Recap
Chen Pi, unable to persuade his master Er Yue Hong to meet with the Japanese, offered to go in his master's stead to secure medicine for the ailing Ya Tou. However, Tanaka Ryoko openly disparaged Chen Pi, stating they had no confidence in him to handle matters, and she doubted he could ever truly surpass his master. Chen Pi, known for his violent temper, could not tolerate Tanaka Ryoko's verbal taunts.
He lashed out, swiftly defeating her guards and holding Tanaka Ryoko by the throat, demanding the medicine. Unflustered, Tanaka Ryoko asserted that her death would mean no medicine for Ya Tou. She then proposed a deal: if Chen Pi could convince Er Yue Hong to cooperate with them, she would provide the life-saving medicine. Seeing no other option, Chen Pi released her and left, still hoping to sway Er Yue Hong.
Ya Tou's condition continued to worsen, and Er Yue Hong accompanied her on an outing. As they passed a photo studio, she expressed a wish to take a picture someday. Er Yue Hong immediately suggested they do it that very day, dismissing her concerns about her attire and hair. Inside the studio, they shared tender moments while being photographed, capturing their love.
Meanwhile, Zhang Qishan, Lieutenant Zhang, and Qi Tiezui explored a cavern filled with human remains and ancient, corroded tomb-raiding tools. Qi Tiezui pondered the identity of the tomb's master and suggested it was merely a satellite tomb to a larger one. They discovered a remarkably heavy iron tool, leading Qi Tiezui to deduce that a Nine Gate family must have undertaken a massive operation here in the past. Suddenly, the faint sound of opera singing echoed through the cavern.
Qi Tiezui recognized the tune as one Er Yue Hong performed during his debut, though he noted the current rendition was vastly inferior. Following the sound, they arrived at a tomb chamber. Qi Tiezui, growing increasingly terrified, insisted that Zhang Qishan's "hard life" protected him, but as a fortune teller, he was vulnerable to bad karma and ghostly encounters. Zhang Qishan ordered Lieutenant Zhang to stay and protect Qi Tiezui while he ventured into the chamber alone.
After a while, worried by Zhang Qishan's prolonged absence, Qi Tiezui, despite his fears, dragged Lieutenant Zhang into the cave. As they navigated the dark passages, Qi Tiezui accidentally brushed against a wall, disturbing a swarm of glowing moths. Zhang Qishan immediately came to their aid, telling Lieutenant Zhang to take Qi Tiezui and escape while he single-handedly fought off the insects. Once the moths were cleared, Zhang Qishan continued his exploration.
His hand brushed against the wall, encountering a clump of strange, hair-like threads. Pulling them away, he found a family crest, which he recognized as Er Yue Hong's. Suddenly, Zhang Qishan's body betrayed him, but he clung to his last vestiges of consciousness and managed to crawl out of the mine. Lieutenant Zhang and Qi Tiezui rushed to his side and helped him from the cave, only to be ambushed by Japanese agents waiting outside.
Lieutenant Zhang's expert marksmanship protected the gravely injured Zhang Qishan from harm. Mustering his last strength, Zhang Qishan instructed Qi Tiezui to take him to Er Yue Hong before collapsing into unconsciousness. From a distance, the American scholar Jude Kao observed the entire confrontation. While publicly employed by the Japanese as a consultant, Jude Kao secretly harbored ambitions to claim the treasures within the mine for himself.
Inside his car, a gramophone played the very same opera tune that Er Yue Hong frequently sang. Jude Kao dismissed his subordinate's suggestion to send more men, stating that the captured men were skilled and could be useful in their future endeavors. Qi Tiezui and Lieutenant Zhang brought Zhang Qishan to Er Yue Hong's manor.
Upon seeing Zhang Qishan's grave condition and the unusual object Lieutenant Zhang presented, Er Yue Hong chastised them for going to the forbidden mine despite his warnings. He swiftly prepared his tools—tweezers, realgar wine, a basin of fire, and a towel—to begin the delicate extraction. With immense effort, Er Yue Hong meticulously pulled the hair-like threads from Zhang Qishan's body, burning them in the fire. Qi Tiezui, relieved, asked for an explanation.
Er Yue Hong revealed that he had known about the ancient tomb ever since Zhang Qishan brought back a ring from the Northern and Southern Dynasties, which was identical to one found by Er Yue Hong's granduncle. He recounted a grim tale of his granduncle and five other men who entered the mine many years ago, only for his granduncle's body to be recovered, his veins and even his head filled with the same hair-like threads.
None of the six men survived. Qi Tiezui confirmed that Zhang Qishan, though initially conscious and insisting on being brought to Er Yue Hong, had become delirious on the way. While confident he had removed the immediate threat, Er Yue Hong still advised them to take Zhang Qishan to a doctor for further assessment, as he couldn't guarantee complete recovery. Lieutenant Zhang thanked Er Yue Hong, and understanding the implied request for them to leave, they departed with Zhang Qishan.
Later, Tanaka Ryoko once again sought out Chen Pi. She informed him that her boss had agreed to provide the medicine for Ya Tou. The condition was for Chen Pi to investigate Zhang Qishan's recent injuries. Chen Pi confirmed Zhang Qishan was indeed gravely injured and, with a confident boast that no secret in Changsha could elude him, agreed to undertake the task. Tanaka Ryoko assured him the Japanese would keep their word regarding the medicine once the investigation was complete.
